An Israeli hypertension device that trains patients to breathe properly lowers blood pressure in diabetics.
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHresperate 88(photo credit: )
An Israeli hypertension device that trains patients to breathe properly has been found by a new study to significantly lower blood pressure among diabetics, 80 percent of whom also have hypertension.
The US market alone for the device, called RESPeRATE and developed and marketed by the Israeli company InterCure, is estimated at eight million Americans who suffer from both diabetes and hypertension but do not reach goal blood pressure with weight reduction, exercise or drugs.
An interim analysis of the results from the first 38 patients participating in a randomized controlled study of non-insulin-dependent diabetics with uncontrolled blood pressure was presented recently at the European General Practice Research Network meeting. The study, conducted by Dr. Moshe Schein from the Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem, compared the blood pressure response to eight weeks of 15-minute daily self-treatment with device-guided slow breathing using the RESPeRATE device with that of a control group that continued their usual care. Medication, diet and physical exercise were unchanged in both groups during the study.
Results show a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure of 7.4 mmHg in the treatment group, compared to a rise of 3.1 mmHg in the control group. Thirty-two percent of the RESPeRATE-treated patients reached the target blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg compared with just 5% in the control group. No side effects were observed and compliance with treatment was good.
Similar to the seven previously published RESPeRATE studies, which were performed in general hypertensive populations, this study also demonstrated a dose-response relationship. Performing more breathing exercise sessions with RESPeRATE, increased the reduction of systolic blood pressure. The device produces synthesized music that sounds something like Bach but has been proven to involuntarily reduce the user's respirate rate to one-third or one-quarter of his usual rate; it can go as low as six breaths a minute instead of an average of 16.
Expulsion of air is stronger and slower. This reduces blood pressure, not only for the 15 minutes a day that the patient listens to the music from RESPeRATE, but long-term thereafter, said InterCure president and CEO Erez Gavish, who is based in Lod.
"This is fantastic news for the diabetes community and for InterCure. Diabetes treatment is all about self-care and empowerment and the RESPeRATE fits right in. The device is already used by more than 30,000 patients and doctors and I'm sure this study will accelerate the adoption of RESPeRATE in the diabetes community," Gavish added. InterCure (www.intercure.com) is a medical device company that creates and sells products that harness the therapeutic power of breathing for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, respiratory diseases and other conditions.
RESPeRATE (www.RESPeRATE.com) is the only non-drug medical device indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hypertension without drugs. RESPeRATE is now available in many countries, including Israel, the US, Australia and many in Europe.
